Erica Martinez

A wall in the NIAD gallery with many artworks hung on the wall and messages painted and drawn directly on the wall in tribute to NIAD artist Erika Martinez.

In Memoriam: NIAD artist Erika Martinez

Posted onAuthorNIAD Art Center

Dear NIAD Community, This week, we share with a heavy heart the news of Erika Martinez’s passing.  A NIAD artist for 17 years, Erika was a pillar of NIAD’s community, and a treasure to her family, to whom we extend our deep condolences. Her many friends remember her as kind, loving, fierce in her joy and inimitable style, and intensely dedicated to her relationships, as well as her work as an artist.  “Her mischievous streak was enviable”; “Her friendships remain so special and everlasting”; “I remember her hellos in the morning where she would say, ‘Hey, it’s me!’—and indeed it was.” These are just Read More …

Online Exhibition: “Stories” selected by B. Wurtz

Posted onAuthorNIAD Art Center

About the Exhibition For this exhibition for NIAD I didn’t want to overthink the process. I decided to begin by going through all the available art and to notice things that kind of jumped out at me. I viewed everything one time and then went back a second time to select artworks. As I viewed the first group of selections I tried to see connections between the works. I noticed that there seemed to be a theme in many of the works that I would describe as being of a narrative nature. I am talking about implied narratives, nothing really Read More …

Thirsty Thursday Logo - a blue drop of water with "Th2" superimposed at the bottom and "Thirsty Thursday" underneath

RSVP for Thirsty Thursday – September 9

Posted onAuthorNIAD Art Center

Join us online from 6-7 PM PT, Thursday September! NIAD Gallery Manager Julio Rodriguez will waltz us through “Mis Figuras Favoritas,” the September Windows Exhibition featuring a lovely selection of new works on paper by NIAD studio artists and BFFs Carlota Rodriguez and Erica Martinez. Tune in and you can meet friendly NIAD artists, studio facilitators, community members, and chat with Erica or Carlota directly about their work! About the exhibition   This month, our Exhibitions Team has selected a collection of new works on paper by Carlota Rodriguez and Erika Martinez. Pre-pandemic, these two artists would usually sit close to Read More …

Untitled (D0897) by Julie MacDonald graphite on woven paper 13 x 19” unique 2019. Row after row of small squares, each divided into four bright triangles, stacked up across the picture plane to form an optical dance (perhaps more of a march?) of color.

Online Exhibition: Holding the Line, organized by jill moniz

Posted onAuthorNIAD Art Center

About the exhibition The works in this exhibition use the line to suggest form and meaning. Whether as a solid object or a mere suggestion, the line elicits connections beyond formalism, and resonates with transformative power. The synchronicity between what is made and what is felt enriches the experience with the visual languages offered here. Together, these works tell a story with line, color and form about the pleasure, diversity and complexity born from simple materials that should be required reading. About the organizer  jill moniz is an independent curator of visual narratives. She shares her vision of empowering visual Read More …

Untitled (D0653) mixed media on paper by NIAD studio artist Erica Martinez. image description: a bright magenta feather shape with black ink details on a light yellow background.

Online Exhibition: 20 Continuous Lines, selected by Veronica DeJesus

Posted onAuthorNIAD Art Center

About the exhibition 20 continuous linesCommunicationConnectionsRelationshipsModel MakingCirclesFriendsFamilyGrounding StonesVacationsFinding BalanceSeeing things throughColors open up our perspectivesFinding peace and harmonyEVEN through hard shiftsBREATHE WORKPRAYER WORKPERSPECTIVE WORKlaying in a fieldFeeling connected to your purposeHaving your inner light turned on from within About the selector Veronica DeJesus is a visual artist currently living and working in Los Angeles. She was raised in Miami, LA, Oakland and on the open road along Highway 10. Veronica has had numerous solo shows at galleries in New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco, including her remarkable exhibition of Memorial drawings at The Berkeley Art Museum. Her work has been featured Read More …

Online Exhibion: This Is My Dream, Selected By Dorian Reid//

Posted onAuthorNIAD Art Center

Multi-disciplinary NIAD artist Dorrie Reid has chosen a show that speaks to and about this moment. As Dorrie explains, “I’m getting sick and tired of hearing news about people getting killed… I’m thinking about the future, and I’m thinking about right now. When will I be able to do my own thing without getting stressed out, and without any violence or cruelty?” View it here.